<p>Nominate a resident/tenant/client for Every Senior has a Story</p><p>June 12, 2014</p><p>Dear IHCA ICAL Member,</p><p>The Iowa Health Care Association and Iowa Center for Assisted Living Public Relations Committee is sponsoring the 2014 Every Senior has a Story program, to help recognize Iowa’s wonderful seniors and to put a face on those served by IHCA nursing facilities and ICAL assisted living programs, residential care facilities, senior living communities, and home health agencies. </p><p>The IHCA ICAL Public Relations Committee invites you to participate in Every Senior has a Story. From the submissions received, the Public Relations Committee will chose several to be displayed at IHCA ICAL events including the 2014 IHCA ICAL Convention in September. Members are also encouraged to use their entry as a spring board for a feature story in their local newspapers and other publications to help promote the services and quality care provided by IHCA and ICAL member facilities. The PR Committee requests that each member organization nominate one resident/tenant/client and share his/her heartwarming story illustrating the positive influence that care provided by your organization has made on the senior’s quality of life in a one-page typewritten narrative. (Story examples on following pages.)</p><p>We are looking for people served by the LTPAC profession who has had a positive outcome that led to an improved quality of life in any or all of these areas: . Rehabilitation/recovery; . Health improvement; . Physical (ADL) improvement . Social activity; . Community involvement; or . Overcoming obstacles.</p><p>For those nominees whose submission is selected, IHCA ICAL will work with the member organization to arrange a professional photographer to photograph the selected nominee for the display. The display will feature photographs, accompanied by brief summary of the selected nominee’s quality of life story. This display will serve as a reminder to the public and our elected officials that the quality of care provided by Iowa long term and post-acute care providers makes a difference in people’s lives every day. </p><p>The Every Senior has a Story project helps us put the “human face” on long term care. This photographic tribute is our way of acknowledging the contribution that quality care makes in the lives of the people whose needs are met by the long term and post-acute care professionals. Complete the enclosed nomination form and a one-page narrative to tell us about a resident/tenant/client who you believe fits the criteria. (See the attached samples.) Forward the form and narrative to IHCA ICAL by Friday, July 25, 2014. If using the US mail, it must be postmarked by July 25, 2014 and received in the IHCA office by July 30, 2014. Please limit the focus and number of questions asked of a nominee in order to keep the story within ONE page. </p><p>If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact Claire Seely, IHCA ICAL Director of Communications at 800.422.3106 or [email protected]. Information is also available on the IHCA ICAL website at www.iowahealthcare.org. Thank you and we look forward to reading your nomination.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Tom Swanson and Beth Fleming IHCA ICAL Public Relations Committee Chairs Nomination form IHCA ICAL’s Every Senior has a Story</p><p>DEADLINE: Must arrive at IHCA ICAL office or be postmarked by Friday, July 25, 2014</p><p>PLEASE TYPE or PRINT CLEARLY</p><p>Nominee’s Name: ______Age: ______</p><p>Member organization: ______</p><p>Address: ______</p><p>City: ______Zip: ______</p><p>Organization Contact Person </p><p>Name: ______</p><p>Title: ______</p><p>E-mail: ______</p><p>Phone: (______) ______</p><p>Please attach a typewritten one-page narrative about your nominee’s quality of life journey. Be sure it explains the influence the quality care provided has made on the senior’s quality of life. IHCA ICAL reserves the right to edit submissions as needed. The nominee must reside in or be served by the IHCA or ICAL member organization listed on the nomination form.</p><p>Submit your nomination by completing this form, then include your one-page typewritten narrative and signed photo/information release form (included) and return all three to: </p><p>IHCA ICAL 1775 90th St. West Des Moines, IA 50266-1563</p><p>Submissions can also be faxed to: 515.978.2209 or e-mailed to [email protected] Nominations must arrive at IHCA or be postmarked by Friday, July 25, 2014 (and delivered by mail by July 30). Every Senior has a Story participant release form </p><p>I grant permission for the Iowa Health Care Association and Iowa Center for Assisted Living (IHCA ICAL) to use and share my quality of life story (which may include some general medical information) and photos in the Every Senior Has A Story program and any subsequent public relations purposes related to IHCA ICAL. I understand that IHCA ICAL may edit the material for length or conciseness. </p><p>Name (please print) ______</p><p>Signature ______Date ______</p><p>Witness signature ______Date ______</p><p>Signed release should be faxed to 515.978.2209 or sent to IHCA ICAL, 1775 90th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266-1563 </p><p>All questions can be directed to Claire Seely, IHCA ICAL Director of Communications at [email protected] or 800.422.3106 SAMPLE Clyde Thompson Bloomington Care and Rehab, Bloomington, IA</p><p>When Clyde came to Bloomington Care and Rehab from Kirksville, MO, he admits he was in rough shape. His care needs had become too much for his family to handle. Clyde and his family agreed to give Bloomington Care Center a try. </p><p>When he entered BCC, Clyde was on a mechanical breathing machine and couldn’t talk. He was malnourished and being fed through a tube. He could only walk a few steps with a walker.</p><p>The BCC care and rehab team evaluated Clyde’s health issues and developed a care plan to restore his strength and stamina. The transformation was almost immediate. “Within three days of coming to the care center I was up and walking,” Clyde said. “I couldn’t hardly believe it.” </p><p>“Our goal”, said BCC Administrator Bill Warth, “is to give people like Clyde the care they need to get healthy again, build their strength and go home.” Through a combination of improved nutrition, physical therapy and working with doctors to make medication adjustments, the staff at BCC helped Clyde do just that. </p><p>After six weeks of skilled care and rehabilitation, Clyde was independent enough to move to the Bloomington Heights Assisted Living. Now he plays his guitar and sings every Tuesday for other tenants and leads a sing-a-long. He enjoys the freedom of living in assisted living and the comfort of having help when he needs it. “My family was feeling guilty over not being able to take care of me at home,” Clyde said, “but we can all agree now that I’m living life the way I want and don’t feel like I’m holding them down at home. It really has worked out great for all of us.” </p>